Shannon Petralito

Where do I even begin? In 2009 I had a desire to compete in my first figure competition. I traveled to New York to compete in NPC Atlantic States. I remember being back stage by myself not knowing what the heck I was doing, everyone had their fellow competitors with them, make up artists ect… I sat in a corner with my suitcase & I was so nervous! I distinctly remember a few bikini girls talking with a woman I assumed was their coach who made it a point to come back stage & give her girls a supportive pep talk. They were all so happy & so friendly & having so much fun together. I later found out that the woman was Cathy Savage & the girls were Savage Girls. After I got home I looked her up & my desire to learn all I could about the industry led me to set a goal & attend Camp Savage that winter & it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Not only have I learned a tremendous amount about the sport of competing these past
few years but I have learned so much about myself. There is so much more to this than
the training & dieting & stepping on a stage! I have found that what it is really all about is
the journey to get there, the friends you make, the moments you share, the support you
give & receive, the love you learn to have for yourself & others around you, believing in
yourself and never doubting who you are & not being afraid to become the person you
have always wanted to be.

Becoming a part of this beautiful sisterhood has changed my life. I had pretty much
given up on the love, trust & friendships of other women, throughout my life I had been
deceived & hurt too many times. I guess you could say I began to have a chip on my
shoulder & took on the attitude that “ all I need is myself, my husband, my son & my
family.” However, there was a void in my life without that female companionship. One of
the biggest gifts I have been given over the past few years is the chance to build some
of the most beautiful & honest relationships with some of the greatest women I know!
Cathy & all of the coaches are not only in my opinion the best in the business at
providing women the tools they need to be successful athletes/fitness models but they
offer so much more to women by teaching us how to love & respect ourselves & each
other to believe in ourselves & to do this together as a TEAM…. this is what Savage
exemplifies.
Cathy & all of the coaches genuinely love each & every women that joins the Savage
family. We are all their children in a sense, it is by far the most loving, supportive &
REAL family that you will be a part of! As a Savage Girl I have already done so many things I never thought would be possible a few years back! In a million years I never thought you would see me do a sportswear theme!!! I never thought I would be able to pull it off, it wasnʼt me…or so I thought! I LOVED it! When I told Cathy I was thinking about doing it she & the coaches never doubted me for a second, they are always so supportive of you pushing yourself past those boundaries. I am eager to see what the future holds for me & for all of us! I love my Savage family & thank you all for making me a better person just by knowing you & sharing this amazing journey together!
Cathy, thank you for sharing the gift that you have in making everyone around you
believe in themselves to follow their dreams & never ever give up & enjoy this journey
called life! It is amazing! I love you!